The Sudbury Cabinet
Frans Francken II (Antwerp 1581 - Antwerp 1642)
Category
Furniture
Date
1600 - 1699
Materials
Ebony, glass,ivory gilt copper and parce gilt
Measurements
909 x 1111 x 501 mm
Place of origin
Holland
Order this imageCollection
Sudbury Hall (Children's Country House), Derbyshire
NT 652719
Summary
The Sudbury Cabinet, A Flemish 17th century ebony and parcelgilt cabinet with two doors with moulded borders surmounting two frieze drawers on a similar stand (SUD/F/64b), the two doors enclosing an interior with a door enclosing a mirror-lined architectural shrine with ivory inlaid tessellated pavement and with repousse gilt metal pilaster uprights and mounts. The doors and drawers are mounted with panels painted on copper by Frans Francken. ON THE DOORS - Noah and his family prepare to enter the ark; and the building of the Tower of Babel. ON THE DRAWERS - the Creation of the World; the Creation of the Animals; the Creation of Adam; The Creation of Eve; Adam and Eve driven from the Garden of Eden; Adam and Eve in the World; Cain and Abel sacrificing; Cain slaying Abel (eight). ON THE CENTRAL PANEL - Adam and Eve and the Tree of Knowledge - arched top. ON THE LID - Cain fleeing after the murder of Abel. Very similar to another example illustrated as plates 1 and 4 on pages 16 and 17 of 'Styles Hollandia' Plaisir de la Maison Edition. Label inscribed on front 'CABINET PAINTED BY OLD FRANCK b.1546 d.1616. The Honourable William Warren Vernon'. The cabinet was originally owned by Alice Bankes Lady Borlase (1621-1683) daughter of Chief Justice Bankes (1589-1644) of Corfe Castle and Kingston Lacy. Alice married Sir John Borlase 1st Bt (1619-1672. The Honourable William Warren Vernon (1834-1919) inherited the cabinet in 1838 at the age of 4 years being the heir to the property of the late Admiral Sir John Borlase Warren, G.C.B. (1753-1822), William was made a ward of Chancery. When William left 34 Grosvenor Place in 1898 to move to a smaller house the cabinet with some of the Borlase and Warren pictures, by family arrangement sanctioned by the Court of Chancery, passed into the family collection at Sudbury.
Provenance
Vernon collection transfered from the Treasury to the National Trust on the 30th October 1984.
Makers and roles
Frans Francken II (Antwerp 1581 - Antwerp 1642) , artist